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Fiat Chrysler On Pace To Sell 20,000 Cars In Japan In 2016

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Fiat Chrysler is looking to sell 20,000 cars in Japan in 2016 after moving 10,000 units in the first six months of the year.

Speaking to Japan Today, FCA Japan CEO Pontus Häggström revealed the automaker sold 17,000 units in Japan last year and sales are so far up 15 percent year-over-year in 2016.

Helping to drive FCA Japan’s sales is a “renewed interest,” in import cars in Japan, Häggström said. The automaker has managed to cash in on that interest and is currently the largest non-German automotive importer in the country.

In 2016, FCA Japan’s biggest sellers have been Fiat and Jeep, sales of which are up 30% and 20%, respectively. Sales of Abarth are also up, Häggström said, however Alfa Romeo has experience a slight decline in 2016 due to its small model portfolio.

As for demographics, 50% of Japanese Fiat buyers are female, the highest share of female ownership of any car brand in Japan. Jeep has youngest customer demographic in the country, with people in their 30s being the brand’s most frequent buyer. Additionally, 20% of Japanese Jeep buyers are women.

FCA Japan is on the upswing and Häggström is positive about the future of company, too. His job right now is to raise awareness of FCA’s various brands in region as there are still many Japanese “who don’t know what a Fiat or a Jeep is.” He’s also in the midst of expanding its dealer network and establishing an exclusive Alfa Romeo network.